Parents in the West Carroll School District were upset and claimed teachers walked out of the high school

SAVANNAH, Ill. (KWQC) – Some parents in the West Carroll School District are upset after they say teachers walked out of a high school Thursday.

Channel 6 has received letters and calls from concerned parents who claim teachers are walking out of the school because of the principal’s position. TV crews saw some students leaving the school at the scene of the incident.

“We didn’t get the email until I would say about 10 o’clock [Thursday] morning and it didn’t really solve the problem,” said Maegan Bartlett, a parent. “It just said it’s a normal school day attendance and we’re adequately staffed.”

The superintendent of the school district said that there is a lack of staff and students are leaving on their own.

“I’ve been in a school board meeting and questions are being asked and there’s really no clear answers, they’re just talking around,” Bartlett said.

There is a scheduled meeting with the West Carroll School Board Thursday night at 6 p.m. The TV6 team will be working to find out more.

In a statement from West Carroll Education Association co-presidents Chris Yingling and Jeff Holley:

“The West Carroll School Board has been aware for weeks of the problems with Community School District 314’s Julie Katzenberger. The West Carroll Education Association (WCEA) passed a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Katzenberger about two weeks ago. The vote passed by an overwhelming majority.

Among the concerns that led to the vote of no confidence in Superintendent Katzenberger were:

• Principal Katzenberger does not control parents about the problems of students.
• Superintendent Katzenberger routinely rejects staff suggestions when dealing with student and school issues.
• The loss of professional staff, support staff, and building administrators due to micromanagement and ongoing conflict with Superintendent Katzenberger indicates that the district is struggling to attract and retain quality teachers for our students.
• Teachers fear retaliation from Superintendent Katzenberger for raising concerns at board meetings or board members.

Then, Wednesday morning, the principal of West Carroll High School (WCHS) resigned. Principal Jessica Love was the second permanent principal, but the eighth administrator overall, to lead WCHS in some capacity since the start of the school year. On Wednesday night, the WCEA again warned the board that the situation with Superintendent Katzenberger is an emergency and at crisis level. Recent events at WCHS have fueled the no-confidence motion by the WCEA. The members once again demand the board to take immediate action.”

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